Gahhhhhh no one told me Costco was heaven on earth!!!!!!!!!
The Costco people were incredibly nice and gave me a little free pass to walk around to my heart’s content. I probably roamed for about half an hour (could have spent all day) before making the executive decision it was a worthy investment.
And you know what did me in??
No, not the almond butter or the amazing produce….the books! They had a great selection of brand new hardcovers, which at the bookstore would be $27.00 and Costco had them for only $14. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see us using our membership a lot, but mainly for produce (and Ryan’s pepperoni pizza lean pockets). No more shall I have to go to the store four times a week just to buy pre-bagged organic lettuce, spinach or bananas! I was shocked that the exact same 1 lb organic spinach container was $9.50 at Whole Foods and only $4.00 at Costco. Other noteworthy produce items included bags of avocados, crates of cherries, blueberries and blackberries, organic carrots (for juicing) and tons of citrus! I was in hog’s heaven. I also stared for awhile at the BIG crate of Chobani yogurts and larabars. Bliss.
So what did I walk out today with, you ask?
I was SO good!!!! As much as I wanted it all I took into account that I already had to pay $50 for the membership and we were going out of town tomorrow morning. No need to buy spinach when it would just sit and wilt all weekend! I couldn’t help myself with the book though—-Dor0thea writes excellent “plane books” and I’m a sucker for anything about the Lowcountry. Her books are pretty light and easy to read but they make for great traveling companions!
I plan to go back to the store early next week to stock up on produce and then Ryan wants to go next weekend to get his card made and pick out some of the food he likes. lol
Despite it being 11 miles away, I zipped home on the interstate and made it in only 9 minutes! I was tempted for a brief second to just grab lunch at Crisper’s or Tjuanna Flatts right next to Costco but I know this weekend I’ll be eating out a lot and I had a big bag of organic spring mix that had my name on it at home! 
Thus, I used my HUGE container of hummus and guac to compile the best salad yet.
One bite and I was very glad I waited. This salad totally rocked my socks off!
I used:
- 1 whole bag organic spring mix
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/2 cup cannellini beans
- bag of mini carrots
- 1/4 cup Sabra’s Sundried Tomato Hummus
- 1/4 cup guacamole
- BIG drizzle of texas pete!!
Guacamole and hummus combined is a match made in heaven. Seriously. It doesn’t get better. Oh wait, yes it does—-if you add hot sauce it takes it to a whole new level. Costco membership was worth it just for this! 
Because whenever I go out of town I get incredibly paranoid of coming down with something, I loaded up the vitamins with a shaker full of Berry SuperFood and ice water
Dessert was a tiny handful of these little gems:
I’m just resting now with some herbal tea but I’m going to head to the gym later for cardio and a long steam. Still haven’t packed because Dexter won’t get out of my suitcase and he’s just too cute to move.
Murphy-Goode Fact of the Day:
Did you know that the Murphy-Goode website features recipes?! Yes they do! You can actually find a four-course dinner menu, with recipes included, for every night of the week! Check it out here.
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Hummus, guacamole, and books? You truly are a girl after my own heart!
I consider canceling my Costco membership every year…but the books keep me going back.
It’s great that you’re now a member of “The Club” (Costco used to be called Price Club”) . . . it IS a heavenly place. I noticed your hummus. . . I don’t get headaches . . .ULNESS I eat Costco’s hummus . . . so I Googled its ingredient sodium benzoate and found out why (so now I make my own huge batches of hummus for about $1.50 using Ina Garten’s recipe off the web. )
Here’s a quote from a Google search: “Sodium benzoate is a commonly found preservative in such food and drink products as fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee flavoring syrups, as well as a variety of condiments. Although the FDA has previously classified sodium benzoate as a safe preservative, this classification is now being questioned. It appears that sodium benzoate forms a chemical known as benzene when in the presence of vitamin C. Benzene not only causes damage to DNA, the genetic material, it’s also a known carcinogen and appears to play a role in a variety of diseases due to it’s DNA damaging capabilities.”
BTW . . . it has been banned in Europe since 2007.
Haha those are my two favourite finds at Costco – the giant Maranatha almond butter jars and the books!
Would they let you buy anything on the guest pass? I really want to check it out but I can’t afford an actual membership right now!
Also, I read back in your blogs because I just love reading what you have to write, and I got to the point about your brother passing away. Now I know you have talked about it often before, but as I started getting closer, I just started to tear up. He was so handsome and sounded like a fantastic individual. I have only lost one person to me in my life, and it was my mother, and I was 4. It was devastating (I did understand what had happened) so I can definitely sympathize with you on losing family.
Continue to have the strength and vibrance that you exhibit daily on this blog, and I hope that you feel great about your life.
Have a great day sweetie!
-Muffy
PS mmm sundried tomato hummus? they don’t have that one at sam’s…
I love buying the spinach from Costco – the bag is HUGE and even if you don’t finish it all it’s still cheaper than buying multiple bags at another store!
Glad you had a good time at Costco!
The salad looks great!
i agree…the guac is fabulous and i typically freeze them until i need them!
wish mine carried fage… i think thats my biggest weakly expense.
Glad you liked Costco!! Just a warning: it can be a scary, scary place on the weekends
Love Costco! I don’t know about Tampa, but the case of Chobanis rings in at less than $1 per cup at my Costco in Kansas City!!! The exp. date is always at least a month away, too, so never a worry about spoiling.
Congrats on the Costco membership!
Wow, that Costco membership really does sound great! I love how they let you scout the place out.
And wow, I would have been in heaven with all that MaraNatha! Can’t wait to hear how you end up liking your membership!
Glad you love Costco! I’m going to love seeing what you buy from there to give me ideas! Just a heads up – the pharmacy has REALLY great deals on prescriptions. I get my birth control 3 months at a time there (insurance doesn’t cover it), and it is SO CHEAP!
Whenever my mom and I are together we go to Costco (or wherever is closest depending on whether she’s visiting, or I am) and get that guac and chow and talk… it only happens a few times a year and is sooo priceless and so good! Love it!
Congrats on your new membership!
So glad you got the membership. We have the executive membership since we shop a LOT at Costco. They have a 2% money back on this membership and since we end up spending something like 4000+ per year, the membership basically pays for itself
Costco Rocks!!! Love the produce. Great price on nuts .I will have to check out the books. Have fun at the wedding. can’twait to see your dress.
Almond butter AND guac?! You’re making me think I need to give Sam’s the boot ASAP and get on board the Costco bandwagon!
YAY!! I’m so glad you enjoyed Costco. I too love Costco’s books – such a great deal! My Costco also has 6 Amy’s lasagnas for $12. Check to see if yours does as well!
Hi Jenna! I’m loving your blog! I did have a question about how you store your “wholly guacamole”. I bought some of that from Costco the last time we were there but we didn’t finish the whole thing so we scraped it out of the container, put it in a big ziploc and added lime juice but it turned completely brown by the next morning. I *love* it, though, so I want it to last! Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Oh my gosh, I so have to go to Costco! I belong to Sam’s club but I hate their selection of yogurt and nut butters, which I buy the most of. But their produce is good. Hmm…
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